* A legislative body such as a state legislature, city council or county commission, enacts a new [[statute|law]];

* A legislative body such as a state legislature, city council or county commission, enacts a new [[statute|law]];

* A group that opposes the new law collects enough signatures within the statutory timeframe in that state to place that new law on a [[ballot]] for the voters in the relevant political subdivision to either endorse it as a law, or to withhold their approval.

* A group that opposes the new law collects enough signatures within the statutory timeframe in that state to place that new law on a [[ballot]] for the voters in the relevant political subdivision to either endorse it as a law, or to withhold their approval.

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When veto referenda appear on a ballot, the state's voters who vote "yes" are voting in favor of the same law that their state legislature already passed. This can sometimes be confusing. Typically, when a news report says that a referendum has failed, what they mean is that voters rejected the ballot measure. However, from the point of view of the group that forced the referendum onto the ballot through collecting signatures, they succeeded, since what they wanted to do was defeat a state law that otherwise would have gone into effect.

After a [[state legislature]] has passed a bill that may become the target of a veto referendum effort, typically those opposed to the bill have two windows of opportunity. In most states that allow the [[veto referendum]], if citizens collect enough signatures to force the matter onto their state's ballot within a (typically) short amount of time, the targeted law does not then go into effect when it otherwise would have done so. Rather, the law is held in abeyance pending the outcome of the statewide vote. However, there is often a provision that if those who oppose the targeted law collect signatures but on a more extended timeline, that they can still force the issue to a vote but in the meantime, it will have gone into effect.

After a [[state legislature]] has passed a bill that may become the target of a veto referendum effort, typically those opposed to the bill have two windows of opportunity. In most states that allow the [[veto referendum]], if citizens collect enough signatures to force the matter onto their state's ballot within a (typically) short amount of time, the targeted law does not then go into effect when it otherwise would have done so. Rather, the law is held in abeyance pending the outcome of the statewide vote. However, there is often a provision that if those who oppose the targeted law collect signatures but on a more extended timeline, that they can still force the issue to a vote but in the meantime, it will have gone into effect.

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==Meaning of a "yes" vote==

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Among the states that allow this form of [[direct democracy]], there are different prevailing standards about what a "yes" vote means on a [[veto referendum]].

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* In [[Alaska]] and [[Maine]], a "yes" vote signifies that the voter believes that the challenged legislation should be overthrown and a "no" vote means that the voter approves the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying, "Yes, I agree with those who object to this law that it should be overthrown."

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* In [[California]], [[Oregon]] and [[Washington]], a "yes" vote signifies that the voter approves of the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying "Yes, I want this to become law."

A legislative body such as a state legislature, city council or county commission, enacts a new law;

A group that opposes the new law collects enough signatures within the statutory timeframe in that state to place that new law on a ballot for the voters in the relevant political subdivision to either endorse it as a law, or to withhold their approval.

After a state legislature has passed a bill that may become the target of a veto referendum effort, typically those opposed to the bill have two windows of opportunity. In most states that allow the veto referendum, if citizens collect enough signatures to force the matter onto their state's ballot within a (typically) short amount of time, the targeted law does not then go into effect when it otherwise would have done so. Rather, the law is held in abeyance pending the outcome of the statewide vote. However, there is often a provision that if those who oppose the targeted law collect signatures but on a more extended timeline, that they can still force the issue to a vote but in the meantime, it will have gone into effect.

Meaning of a "yes" vote

Among the states that allow this form of direct democracy, there are different prevailing standards about what a "yes" vote means on a veto referendum.

In Alaska and Maine, a "yes" vote signifies that the voter believes that the challenged legislation should be overthrown and a "no" vote means that the voter approves the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying, "Yes, I agree with those who object to this law that it should be overthrown."

In California, Oregon and Washington, a "yes" vote signifies that the voter approves of the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying "Yes, I want this to become law."

Maine

In Maine, the veto referendum is known as the "People's Veto". According to the laws governing the initiative & referendum process in Maine, the required number of valid signatures to put a People's Veto on the ballot is set at 10% of the number of votes cast for the office of Governor of Maine in the most recent gubernatorial election.

Of the 27 veto referenda that have qualified for the ballot since the first qualified for the 1910 ballot, Maine voters have rejected 15 acts of the Maine legislature and upheld (or ratified) 12 statutes.